Stray dog ​​attacks: Govt should provide free treatment, says High Court

KOCHI: The High Court ordered that the government should provide free treatment to people who are victims of attacks by animals, including stray dogs, and that the police should take action against those who attack stray dogs and those who feed them.

These matters were clarified by the High Court while considering a suo moto petition taken up by the court following the incident in which a pet dog named Bruno was beaten death Adimalathura, Thiruvananthapuram. The court considered the petition urgently in the situation where the stray dog menace is becoming rampant in the state.

"Stray dogs suspected of being infected with rabies should be relocated using scientific methods. Free treatment should be ensured in government hospitals and medical colleges for victims of animal attacks," the court said. The High Court also stated that this does not prevent the victims from seeking compensation later. The interim order is of the division bench comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice P Gopinath.

Will assess govt's actions every week

The Division Bench, which heard the petition yesterday, had directed the DGP to issue a circular specifying that strict action would be taken against those who attack stray dogs. Following this, the government presented the new circular to the High Court. SHOs of police stations should take action as per the circular of DGP. With the increasing incidence of stray dogs attacking people, the government has an obligation to take urgent action. People take law into their own hands and kill stray dogs because of the delay in action, the court said. The High Court also stated that it will assess the projects implemented by the government regarding stray dogs every week.

The Division Bench has asked the Central Animal Welfare Board whether it can help the state government in implementing the ABC programme for the sterilization of stray dogs. The division bench will be consider the petition again on September 23rd.